Bria was a sophomore College student from a prestigious school. She was raise with fear of having a boyfriend after her parents warned her about entering relationships. During her days of being far from her home she suddenly feel bored. She was pretty but she also has suitors but she can't deny that non of them seems passed as her lover. Even her mother feared she would grow up an old single lady and die without having someone on her life.
One day during their video call, she asked Bria if she have someone in mind. She told her about someone whom she previously like on highschool. She hid those stories from them cause she feared she'll be called harlot young lady. Specially, knowing the elderlies they have this mindset that seems making the young generations the lady that they thought should be but they can't even be that lady back in their days.
"So where is he?" her mother asked excited.
"Well that's the problem mom. Cause I can't approach him, it's not that I feared telling him about my affection. It's just we both have same type."
Her mother burst into laughter, she feel sorry for her daughter about liking someone who also likes men. But she can't believe her daughter is very unlucky when it comes to liking. Bria felt embarrassed because of her mother's reaction. But her mom retrieve her bad action and soothes her with hopeful words saying;
"Its okay child, maybe a straight and right man shall come. Not now but maybe later. He was just traffic somewhere." It should sound fine but her mom added a joke saying, " or maybe? He was still a sperm and not yet born." Then once again burst in laughter. Bria don't know how to respond, well she laugh, get mad or join her mom's corny joke. But instead of those she just remain silent.
Later that call she runs to her refuge. Her newly found friends in college. Same as her they are not interested in love. But now she's desperate to enter relationship. She even envied highschoolers who now have their partners. They were so sweet and they both care to each other. She even think maybe those kids have good grades because everyday they were inspired by each other's love.
"Ahhh… my eyes." Miles breaks the noisy stare the group gave to the couple's.
"I wonder if their parents knew about their relationship?" Letty also said coldly staring to the couples like sinners.
"Let's stop watching them, they seems to feel our gossiping eyes." Miles added and the three of them turned around facing the flowing river in the river bank.
"River banks are the hide out of secret couple. They feared being seen by someone they know and report them to their parents." Letty also added.
"I wonder how it feels like to have someone I like." Bria said while smiling crazily.
Her opinion shocked her two friends. "I thought you'll marry a European guy?" Letty.
"You told us you'll study first?" Miles.
So then Bria explained to them about a situation. It was when Hapi told her it's nice to have experience how having a partner is. Besides she also wants to experience how it feels like to cry after breaking up someone you thought you love.
"I don't care, I need to buy a house and lot first before I enter relationship." Letty announced
Miles wrap her arms around Bria's neck and said proudly. "Don't worry Bri since we are your good friend we will support you". When Letty heard Miles she then nods that means she agreed on Miles.
Then they started the manhunt, the operation Bria's inspiration. They switched location and they found themselves on their school. What do you think is the purpose of searching a school inspiration when the guy's school was far. If Bria can't see him, then the inspiration is useless. Suddenly an interruption came leading Bria left alone. Miles and Letty were summoned by their club president for they have an urgent meeting for their clubs activity.
Although the reason was acceptable, Bria still feels betrayed. After all they planned the whole stuff, but they left her alone. She was doldrums at the moment when someone who was hurriedly walking passing her. No, accidentally bumps her that made her spin and face the fence where on the ground was a man standing. He looks so serious but it doesn't hide his haemathermous face. Along with his gentle eyes and his sweet smile. Now she forgets she was down and feel mad after being bump by someone who doesn't look on his way.
She immediately run near the grounds fence to stare at him, passing the stinking sweaty students who walks around the path that seems like they just finished their P.E. Finally she can now stare the guy she likes. The guy was wearing a black shirt and a jeans also shouting towards his teammates. He saluted them and they were dismissed. She wants to approach him, but she can't. The guy might already have a girlfriend. And if she do it she might go back to her boarding house bald with an issue as mistress. Of course she can't do that, she must do a background check first.
The day ended without her knowing the name of the guy so she could search her on social media for some background check. She was also hesitant to tell Letty and Miles, but she can't hold on to her excitement and told them unconsciously. At first they teased her but in the end they choose to support her decision.
The next day they decided to check him she choose to pout her lips on pointing the guys direction and just explain the shoe colors and the number position on his line. In which he was the guy second to the left and wearing a white with check marked short. The shoe color is the best to physically describe him since they all wear their course uniform. While Bria was busy staring at the guy and daydreaming, Letty and Miles make a move. Luckily Bria's crush's platoon was dismissed. Letty opened her eyes widely and stared on the name tag when the guy was facing her direction and another luck when their was traffic since class is over. When she finally reads the name or the last name she relays it with Miles and do the stalking.
When Bria arrived along with Jenny her course classmate and the other friend, Miles approach them in a smiling face while Letty was just looking cold. She scanned their faces and it's difficult to say what happened.
"We finally knew what's his name!" Miles said excitedly. Bria was all ears to listen so she told them to go on somewhere quiet and not crowded. When they were settled Miles then spills her words.
"The guys last name was Thompson. You know what I was really weird earlier when I tried to get his name out of his name tag." Miles said happily like crazy.
"so?" Bria asked in thrill.
"So Thompson is not the man." Letty answered and still cold.
"Why?"
"Bria he had something that you don't like."
"He has girlfriend." Bria and Miles said in choral but the difference is Bria was dismayed but Miles was energetic.
"I can't believe I lost my mom's bracelet for this stupid affection." Bria added so down. It seems like yesterday when she bumps into someone the bracelet falls. She doesn't noticed it out of the feeling she felt. Now she lost it along with her infatuation for Thompson.
"Guys can I asked what happened here. I am with you all along. I am curious at the same time confuse what's with the Thompson and the girlfriend thing." Jenny asked
So Miles told her everything about how Bria wants to have a boyfriend and experience it. When she hears everything she needed to hear she giggled and opened her phone. She said something about this famous app used by someone like their age. It's a Role-playing world and their you can find your lover and marry them. Even some players ends up together and have their family.
"This game called Era Arena of Love. This was a Filipino gaming design, in which players sets their characters avatar. They can select their own preference of physical appearance and have a stage name. Aside from that you can also experience how to live in the Era you want. You can choose to old times when Philippines wasn't discovered yet by Spaniards, or during the discovery and the Spaniard occupation, or the American occupation, or Japanese or Martial Law or the present world. But if you were to asked me the Spaniard occupation is good choice because your character can wear the dresses like Maria Clara." Jenny endorsed
Bria found Jenny's suggestions boring, because she was never interested in games and online dates. But when night came she suddenly felt bored, although she has to study for her report cause they were assigned to do it tomorrow. Suddenly her curiosity about the game drives her to open it. It was already downloaded and she just wanna try to use it to pass her boredom. She created an avatar similar to her and input her name Bria. But because her typing board was auto-correct the name Bria became Brain. She only noticed it when the game loaded, besides she doesn't intend to keep the game she just wants to check it if it's fun. Then selection of different occupation came. The phone's screen reflected on her eyes as she chose to click the era she wants to experience.